Kolhapur Sets Benchmark with Maharashtra’s First Comprehensive Flood Management Plan
Kolhapur | April 29, 2025: In a landmark move to strengthen disaster preparedness, Kolhapur has become the first district in Maharashtra to implement a comprehensive flood management plan, targeting the recurring flood threats in the Panchganga River basin.
The initiative, developed by the Kolhapur District Disaster Management Authority, is in accordance with the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The plan has been formulated based on field surveys, technical studies, and multi-departmental consultations, marking a shift from reactive relief measures to proactive flood mitigation.
The flood management blueprint includes structural measures such as embankment reinforcement, river dredging, and upgraded drainage systems across urban and rural areas. It also maps historically flood-prone zones across the district’s talukas.
In addition to physical interventions, the plan focuses on non-structural strategies like community awareness campaigns, early warning system deployment, and the use of real-time hydrological data. Technologies such as GIS mapping and remote sensing will aid in flood prediction and land-use planning.
#Kolhapur leads Maharashtra with first-ever comprehensive flood management plan .@ET_Government
— District Information Office, Kolhapur (@Info_Kolhapur) April 29, 2025
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To ensure long-term resilience, the plan also promotes watershed development and forest regeneration to improve water retention and reduce surface runoff.
Speaking at the launch, District Collector Amol Yedge emphasized the district’s forward-thinking approach. “This plan represents a strategic shift toward building local resilience and ensuring better coordination among departments,” he said.
The Maharashtra government has approved funding for the project under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). Officials believe the Kolhapur model could pave the way for similar initiatives in other flood-vulnerable districts across the state.
